Southern tweak rail timetables in case leaves cause a problem

Autumn poses a risk to a very small number of rural routes which can be vulnerable to poor rail conditions due to leaf fall, according to Southern.

The company says it will be introducing a ‘leaf fall timetable’ where a small number of weekday morning peak services will start their journeys a few minutes earlier to ensure that they arrive at their final destinations on time.

The routes affected by the changes are particularly susceptible to heavy leaf fall in the areas prior to joining the Brighton Main Line.

Southern says that by starting a few minutes earlier at both the departure station and at stations on the way to the Brighton Main Line, any late running caused by slippery rails should be negated, allowing the train to reach its final destination on time.

This year’s leaf timetable starts on Monday (October 5) and will run until Friday December 12.

Details are as follows:

Suburban

05.49 - Horsham to Victoria via Sutton. Starts at 05.46 and runs three minutes earlier to Dorking, then as booked.

06.20 - Horsham to Victoria via Sutton. Starts at 06.17 and runs three minutes earlier to Dorking, then as booked.

06.54 - Horsham to Victoria via Sutton. Starts at 06.53 and runs one minute earlier to Leatherhead, then as booked.

Metro

06.09 - Caterham to London Bridge. Starts at 06.07 and runs two minutes earlier to Purley, then as booked.

08.50 - Tattenham Corner to London Bridge. Starts at 08.48 and runs two minutes earlier to Purley, then as booked.

Oxted

08.34 - Uckfield to London Bridge. Starts at 08.31 and runs earlier to Ashurst, then as booked.

Redhill

04.53 - Tonbridge to Redhill. Starts at 04.50 and runs three minutes earlier to Nutfield, arriving at Redhill as booked.

05.20 - Tonbridge to Redhill. Starts at 05.17 and runs three minutes earlier to Nutfield, arriving at Redhill as booked.

06.47 - Tonbridge to Redhill. Starts at 06.45 and runs two minutes earlier to Nutfield, arriving at Redhill as booked.

07.25 -Tonbridge to London Victoria. Starts at 07.23 and runs twominutes earlier to Redhill, then as booked.

08.16 - Tonbridge to London Victoria. Starts at 08.14 and runs two minutes earlier to Redhill, then as booked.

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